US Agencies, Associations and Societies Outreach

The priority targets for transition to non-animal methods are ocular and dermal irritation testing. In the United States most of the requirements for ocular and dermal testing come from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). IIVS maintains close contact with both agencies, working collaboratively with their scientists to share information on the performance, correct application, and data interpretation for new in vitro methods. IIVS staff members also serve on several committees and advisory groups for these agencies.

The validation status of new methods whose application extends to more than one US agency can be assessed by the Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Validation of Alternative Methods (ICCVAM). IIVS staff members have been chosen for several ICCVAM peer review committees and have served on the Scientific Advisory Committee on Alternative Toxicological Methods which advises both ICCVAM and the National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) on priorities for alternatives development. The expertise of IIVS is highly valued by these agencies and as such the Institute is frequently called upon to provide expert review and opinion on alternative issues.

Associations, Societies and Non-Governmental Organizations

IIVS has been invited by several leading organizations to serve on their scientific advisory committees. These organizations have an extensive reach throughout the alternatives community and so by being an active contributor, IIVS is able to further its own Outreach agenda.